Combined shoulder-brace and garment-supporter.



1. M. BOND. UOMBINED SHOULDER BRAOE AND GARMENT SUPPORTER.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. 17, 1908.

924,034. Patented June 8,1909.

Rs co, ASHINGTON, o, :7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IDA M. BOND, OF FOREST HILL, NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED SHOULDER-BRACE AND GABMENT-SUPPORTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IDA M. BOND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Forest Hill, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Shoulder-Bracesand Garment-Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in body braces and supporters,the object of the invention being to provide a device which is at once ashoulder support and a garment support, the effectiveness of the formerbeing materially enhanced by its union with the garment supporter, sincethe pull of the latter is in a direction to cause the shoulder brace tolie in a position and to o erate in a manner wherein the best resu tswill be obtained.

The invention is useful as a body support for both sexes, and anyconvenient garment may be supported.

In the drawings I have shown the supporter connected to the stockings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 is arelatively enlarged view of the article detached from the figure. Figs.4 and 5 are relatively enlarged front and rear views.

11 represent the shoulder straps of the brace, the same being arrangedto pass over the shoulder and under the arms and lead rearwardly to pads22, or the like, which latter rest upon the shoulder blades. These padsare preferably connected by means of a acing 3, for the sake ofadjustment. Depending from the parts 22 and preferably connected at apoint under the arms, and in such a manner as to exert a pull in adirection to straighten up the shoulders, are straps 44. These in turnare preferably connected by a cross strap 5, which may be madedetachable with either of the straps 44, or may be permanently sewed orotherwise fastened thereto.

6-6 are depending straps from the members 4-4, the straps 66 carrying attheir lower ends hose supporters 77 The position of the article as worn,in order to get the desired results, is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, inwhich it will be seen that the side members 4-4 lead diagonallyforwardly. The straps 4- 1 are held in this position by means of thecross strap 5, which rests against the front of the body, preferablyover the abdominal region.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1908.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Serial No. 458,197.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the downward strain of thegarment or garments is in a direction to gently repress the abdomen, andat the same time pull down on the brace so as to draw the shoulders backby pressing in slightly upon the body between the shoulders. The loweredges of the pads 22 extend downwardly below a horizontal lineintersecting the shoulder points. By this arrangement I find that poiseis given to the body without any sense of discomfort and without anyinjury to the wearer. In case the article is to be used as 'a supporterfor trousers, the straps 66 would be used to make the connection withthe buttons at the front of the trousers, and, if desired, additionalstraps for the buttons at the rear of the trousers might be provided atthe lower ed e of the pads 2-2, closely adjacent to the acing 3. Such amere addition would be so obvious as to re uire no illustration and thestrain of such a ditional rear straps would be in a direction to su nplement the action of the straps 44, wit out in any way negativing theeffect thereof.

In the preferred form of my invention the upper part of the shoulderstrap 1, where it passes over the shoulder, is cupped at 1 so as toembrace the upper end of the upper arm at the joint, in such a manner asto draw it back into the proper osition. This cupped portion 1 a ispreferab y formed of an elastic material, in one or more ieces, althoughin all forms of this invention this is not essential. Each pad portion22 is preferably provided with cross-stays or stiffeners 2* at about theosition where the pad bears u on the scapu a.

What I c aim is: o

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of shoulder piecesadapted to the shoulders and separated along a vertical line midway ofthe back, a lacing for adjustably connecting said shoulder pieces alongsaid line of separation, a pendent garment supporter strap connected toand leading rectly down from the lower edge of each shoulder piece andfrom a point below the arm it, said pendent straps extending forwar lyalong the opposite sides of the body to a point in front of the body ofthe wearer, and a front connecting member for connecting both of saidstraps at a point over the abdomen.

2. In a device of the character descrlbed, a pair of shoulder piecesadapted to the shoulders and separated along a vertical line I and afront connecting member for connectmidway of the back, a lacing foradjustably ing both of said straps at a point over the connecting saidshoulder pieces along said abdomen, each of said shoulder pieces havlineof separation, a pendent garment suping an elastic cupped portionarranged to lit. 5 porter strap connected to and leading diover the topof the shoulders.

rectly down from the lower edge of each shoulder piece and from a pointbelow the IDA BOND arm it, said pendent straps extending for- Witnesses:

War 1y along the opposite sides of the body R. C. MITCHELL,

10 to a point in front of the body of the wearer, CHAS. A. PEARD.

